Lando Norris was one of ten drivers affected by an FIA ruling following the Hungarian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver delivered an impressive performance to win at the Hungaroring, moving within nine points of championship leader Oscar Piastri.
Piastri, who ran a two-stop strategy compared to Norris’s single-stop, could not close the gap in the final laps despite a late attempt to overtake that nearly resulted in a collision. Meanwhile, George Russell continued his strong start to the 2025 season by finishing third.
After the race, FIA stewards announced that Norris, Russell, and eight other drivers had specific lap times deleted due to failing to keep within track limits at turn seven during the same lap. The other drivers affected were Pierre Gasly, Oliver Bearman, Kimi Antonelli, Franco Colapinto, Lewis Hamilton, Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz, and Nico Hulkenberg, who had three laps deleted.
Despite these lap time deletions, none of the drivers received further penalties, and the official race result has been confirmed as final.
The Ongoing Battle for the 2025 Drivers’ Championship
With the Hungarian GP now behind them, Oscar Piastri leads Lando Norris by just nine points as Formula 1 enters its summer break. There are only ten races left in the season, and the fight for the title appears to be a two-horse race between McLaren’s leading drivers.
Neither Piastri nor Norris has yet secured an F1 world championship, ensuring that the upcoming races will crown a new name among the sport’s elite champions. While Piastri holds the points advantage, Norris brings valuable experience from a close title contest last year, where he narrowly lost to Max Verstappen.
McLaren’s dominance has also extended to the Constructors’ Championship, with four back-to-back one-two finishes putting them close to securing the team title. This success allows both McLaren drivers to focus on racing hard against each other as the season‘s climax approaches.
How the FIA’s Decision Impacts the Season’s Momentum
The FIA’s decision to delete lap times from multiple drivers after the Hungarian Grand Prix has raised concerns about consistency and fairness. Although the ruling did not alter the race results, it highlights the strict enforcement of track limits amid a fiercely competitive field.
Lando Norris’s victory at Hungaroring, combined with the close championship standings, has intensified the pressure on all drivers as the season progresses. The unresolved tension from near-collisions and track infractions points to a highly charged and unpredictable second half of the 2025 F1 calendar.
As the drivers and teams prepare to resume racing, the battle between Norris and Piastri promises to keep fans on edge, while other contenders like Max Verstappen watch closely from behind.